NASA invites media to rollout of Artemis III SLS core stage.

NASA will roll the top four-fifths of the SLS core stage out of its Michoud Assembly Facility on April 20, and U.S. media must apply by April 15 to attend.

NASA will roll the largest section of its Space Launch System (SLS) core stage out of the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Monday, April 20. The section, described as the top four-fifths of the core stage, contains the liquid hydrogen tank, liquid oxygen tank, intertank, and forward skirt and will be loaded onto the agency's Pegasus barge for delivery to Kennedy Space Center. Media will have the opportunity to capture images and video, hear remarks from agency and industry leadership, and speak with NASA subject matter experts and Artemis industry partners during the move. Artemis III is the second crewed mission under NASA's Artemis program and is currently scheduled for launch in 2027, following the Artemis II test flight that concluded April 10. Event details: - Roll date and location: April 20 at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. - Hardware moving: The top four-fifths of the SLS core stage will be loaded onto the Pegasus barge for transport to Kennedy Space Center. - Media access: Event is open to U.S. media; applications are due Wednesday, April 15. Contacts listed are Jonathan Deal ([email protected]) and Craig Betbeze ([email protected]). - Processing at Kennedy: Teams will complete stage outfitting and vertical integration before handing the hardware to the Exploration Ground Systems Program for stacking and launch preparations. - Engine timeline: The Artemis III engine section and boat-tail moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building in July 2025, and the four core stage RS-25 engines are scheduled to ship from Stennis Space Center no later than July 2026 for integration. - Mission context: The stage with four RS-25 engines is reported to provide more than 2 million pounds of thrust, and Artemis III will test rendezvous and docking capabilities ahead of planned lunar landings in 2028. Summary: Moving the core stage to Kennedy readies the hardware for final outfitting, engine integration, and assembly in support of Artemis III. Engines are scheduled to ship from Stennis by July 2026, and Artemis III is currently scheduled for launch in 2027.